New Zealand aged care faces workforce and capacity crisis

New Zealand faces a looming crisis in its aged care system as the population aged 65 or over is projected to rise from 950,000 today to 1.3 million by 2040. A ministerial advisory group warned that without significant changes, the country could face a shortfall of more than 9,000 residential care beds within a decade.

A critical component of this crisis is a shrinking workforce. Many nursing and health profession students are opting out of aged care careers during their undergraduate placements. Experts suggest that recruitment and immigration strategies alone may not suffice if the underlying issue of student reluctance is not addressed.

Simultaneously, the Aged Care Association has raised concerns regarding Health New Zealand’s contracting decisions. The Association argues that recent procurement models risk reducing the capacity of in-home and community support by removing established providers. They advocate for increased choice and capacity to support the government’s goal of helping more older New Zealanders live independently in their own homes.